After winning the T&A’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality ‘Café of the Year’ Award in November, the community café has been nominated for another honour, just months after reopening.
The Lodge Café, based in Bowling Park, is now in the running for the Telegraph & Argus ‘Best Coffee Shop’ award. Opened under new owners Jamie Wallace and Andy Meakin in September, the partners said that winning the award after only three months was “unexpected”.
Wallace said: “I have worked here two years, so I do understand the community, the customers, the needs of the business – it was just a quick turnaround!”
Discussing his decision to take on the café, he added: “I think the opportunity was just there at the right time.”
“We saw a decline during previous management; it lost its heart, it lost its spark, and the opportunity was there – so I just wanted to be able to bring that back.”
The coffee shop has become a community hotspot for BD4 residents. Regular visitor Sue Gale, 64, said:
“I come for the company, and for the staff – because I really like the staff – and I love the coffee. I love the atmosphere.”
“I started coming when I got my dog, and I just got to know people. It gets me out of the house when I’m on my own, so I come every day if I can. I just love it.”